With an iPhone in one hand and a pitchfork in the other, the founder of Farmer Jay Pure Organics in Delray Beach uses Facebook and Twitter to spread the word on sustainable farming practices in South Florida.

McCobb, 39, of Boynton Beach, started growing on 5.5 acres off Atlantic Avenue in 2010, supplying gourmet micro greens and produce to South Florida chefs. The Tampa native frequently speaks at elementary schools and also offers a nine-week Junior Sprout program to teach kids about gardening. Find details at MyFarmerJay.com.

Q: Why do you think growing your own vegetables is important?

A: We have to work on being local. When you grow it yourself, the food is more nutrient-dense because the produce hasn't been treated with wax or chemicals to keep it fresh as it's transported. When food is hybridized for pests or fungus resistance, flavor goes by the wayside. When you taste a tomato that knocks your socks off, it's also healthy for you. That's why I suggest you stick to growing heirloom seeds.

Q: Why does sustainable farming matter?

A: Sustainable means using the Earth's resources at a rate that can be replenished. In turn, we create a healthier environment and healthier people.

Q: You teach kids about gardening. What other projects do you have in the works?

A: I'm also working on building a farm school in Delray Beach. It will hold 50 students at a time. There will be greenhouses for year-round growing, outdoor educational and cultural gardens, an outdoor culinary kitchen for classes for adults and kids, and a retail area for gardening supplies. There also will be a cafe and tea garden, where you can harvest your own herbal tea and drink it in the gardens. The idea is to teach agriculture to the community. I'm hoping to have it up and running in 2015.

Q: Pearl the Pig stars on Instagram and on your Facebook fan page. How did you get her?

A: She was crossing A1A at Gumbo Limbo park in Boca Raton and I was teaching a class there that day. Someone must have abandoned her. She was so cute and weighed just 1 pound and fit in the palm of my hand. It's 18 months later and she's 400 pounds. She eats scraps donated by Whole Foods Market. I took her in and she lives with [about 70] chickens. She's my Roto Tiller. She earns her keep. She'll never be bacon.